The Last Son of Krypton
Episode #01 - The Last Son Of
Krypton: Part 1
Original Airdate - September 6th, 1996. - Series Premiere
With destruction raining down on the planet Krypton, Kryptonian
scientist and Council member Jor-El uses the precious remaining
moments to secure superbaby Kal-El in a rocket that will spirit
him to an uncertain future on Earth.
Episode #02 - The Last Son Of Krypton: Part 2
Original Airdate - September 6th, 1996.
Young Clark Kent discovers the truth about who and what he is.
Upon reaching adulthood, he assumes his birthright as the Man of
Steel, and the legend of Superman is born in the city of
Metropolis.
Episode #03 - The Last Son Of Krypton: Part 3
Original Airdate - September 6th, 1996.
Superman thwarts a plot by Lex Luthor to sell the LEXO-SKEL SUIT
5000 to Kaznian terrorists, via their agent John Corben.
Media by James Harvey
Review by RobinIII |
Credits:
Written by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini
Directed by Curt Geda, Scott Jeralds, Dan Riba, Bruce W. Timm
Animation Services by Koko Enterprise Co., LTD., Dong Yang
Animation Co., LTD.
Voices:
Timothy Daly as Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman
Dana Delany as Lois Lane
Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor
Malcolm McDowell as John Corbin
Christopher McDonald as Jor-El
Finola Hughes as Lara
Mike Farrell (I) as Jonathan Kent
Shelley Fabares as Martha Kent
Tony Jay as Sul-Van
Corey Burton as Brainiac
George Dzundza as Perry White
David Kaufman (I) as James "Jimmy" Olsen
Lauren Tom as Angela Chen
Brad Garrett as Bibbo
Dorian Harewood as Ron Troupe
Charles Howerton as Terrorist Guard
Tress MacNeille as Mrs. Stevenson
Jason Marsden as Teenage Clark Kent
Nick Savalas as Attorney
Kelly Schmidt as Teenage Lana Lang
Miracle Vincent as Danitra Evans
Jesse Batter
Brian George
Roger Rose
Vernee Watson-Johnson
Produced by
Haven Alexander
(executive)
Alan Burnett
Paul Dini
Jean MacCurdy
(associate)
Bruce W. Timm
Original music by
Harvey Cohen
Michael McCuistion
Lolita Ritmanis
Shirley Walker (theme)
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This movie originally aired as a three part episode on Kids'WB!, and
the video does a good job on dividing this movie into three different
"acts", as it were. You can plainly see where one episode ended and the
other began, but it still plays out like a good movie. So here we go, a
nice synopsis of the movie...
Jor-El`s tests confirm Krypton is doomed to explode, but the ruling
council disbelieves him, because the Brainiac computer - built to study
and monitor Krypton - disagrees. Jor-El finds Brainiac has lied so that
it will have time to save itself by transferring itself and its`
repository of kryptonian knowledge into a sattelite, instead of being
ordered by the council to help the people. At Brainiac`s orders, Jor-El
is pursued by police. Jor-El makes it back to his home, where his
father-in-law, Sul-Van, now believes him. Jor-El and his wife Lara
prepare their son, Kal-El, to escape Krypton in a rocket, while Lara`s
father decoys the police. Brainiac leaves Krypton. Jor-El and Lara watch
Kal-El`s ship leave just before Krypton explodes.
And that basically ends the first act of this finely done animated
movie, so far. The voice acting in part one is superb, especially Tony
Jay as Jor-el's disapproving stepfather. Speaking of Jor-El, Christopher
MacDonald is the perfect voice for this guy. The cast director strikes
another hit with perfect voice actors. And onto the next part....
The ship takes Kal-El, and some meteoric remains of Krypton, through a
space warp to Earth`s solar system. The ship lands and is found by
Jonathan and Martha Kent. Martha insists they keep the small child. That
child grows up in Smallville as Clark Kent. In high school, Clark tells
his friend Lana Lang that he is worried about how he is developing
strange powers. Lana sees Clark rescue people from a truck accident
without being harmed. Clark`s parents show him the rocket he came in and
a small device. The device has a message from Jor-El and Lara which
tells Clark he is not human. Initially confused, Clark accepts his
birthright and continues discovering his powers. Several years later in
Metropolis, Clark gets a job at the Daily Planet. Lois Lane finds her
story about dockside gun smuggling has been replaced by a story about a
mysterious blue angel that saved a girl's life. Superman makes a public
appearance at a Lexcorp Laboratory when a prototype battle suit is
stolen, and saves Lois. He pursues the men who stole the battle suit,
but is diverted by having to save a plane downed by a missile.
This is where the movie kicks into high gear. The double dealing Lex is
introduced, as well as the perfectly portrayed Lois Lane. Dana Delany
does a great job as Lois. I honestly can't imagine someone else doing
her voice. The teen Clark Kent, voiced by Jason Marsden, has some great
action in a very tense gas station accident scene. Watching it the first
time through, you honestly won't be able to predict the outcome of the
family. The entire scene is beautifully animated, especially the first
time we see Clark Kent running at his super-speed.
I love how the revelation of his origin scene blends into the
introduction of Metropolis and the mention of the 'guardian angel'. The
scene where Clark is upset because he believes himself to be a 'freak'
is done great. Jason Marsden goes all out on that scene, truly proving
he can act.
At the Daily Planet, Lois dubs the new hero Superman. After talking with
his parents, Clark as Superman gives Lois Lane a short interview to
explain himself to the public. Clark meets Luthor and suggests Luthor
can profit from the battlesuit`s theft, then later shows Lois photos
that link Luthor to the country of Kaznia. At dockside, Lois gets a tip
from Bibbo about a Kaznian ship, and onboard meets John Corben. Corben
kidnaps her when she spots the stolen suit.
This is where the finale kicks into high gear. Lex is slime, and the
future Metallo is about to kill Lois Lane all because she's the nosy
reporter we love her for. Talk about unfair, huh? The animation in the
"third act" continues to blow me away. The animation has been getting
steadily better as the movie continued. Tim Daly is doing a great job on
Superman. His sorta bland voice is just perfect. While his voice isn't
as vocal as Kevin Conroy's (Batman), he doesn't have to be. He's a meek
country boy, and his voice job shows just that.
Tipped off by a photo from Jimmy Olsen, Clark as Superman saves Lois at
the last moment and begins fighting Corben, who uses the suit.
Ultimately the suit is destroyed and Corben captured. Later, Superman
appears to Luthor who admits allowing the suit to be stolen, and
Superman vows to keep watching him. Meanwhile, in space Brainiac is
retrieved by aliens. Brainiac kills the aliens, and takes over their
ship.
The finale of this movie is done beautifully. The fight scene between
Superman and the suit is beautifully animated. The confrontation tension
between Lex and Superman is does great as well. Clancy Brown does a
great gruff voice of Lex, which can make even the simplest of words
sound scary as hell. Overall, this is a great movie to watch. The
animation improves as the story movies along. Some great teen angst
stuff, as well as some beautifully animated fight scenes and rescue
attempts.
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